Malaria is a potentially serious illness that can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly. Especially for people at higher risk.
This includes:
- if you're pregnant
- young children
- older people
- if you have a weak immune system
- if you have no spleen
The Plasmodium falciparum parasite causes the most severe malaria symptoms and most deaths. It's the most common type of malaria parasite. It's mainly found in Africa.
Complications of severe malaria can happen within hours or days of the first symptoms.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if:
- you have malaria symptoms
Do this even if you've returned from travelling in the last 12 months or if you've been taking antimalarial tablets.
Anaemia
Malaria destroys red blood cells. This can cause severe anaemia.
Anaemia is where the red blood cells are unable to carry enough oxygen to the body's muscles and organs. This leaves you feeling drowsy, weak and faint.
Other complications
Other complications of severe malaria include:
- liver failure and jaundice - yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- a sudden drop in blood pressure
- a build-up of fluid in your lungs (pulmonary oedema)
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- kidney failure
- swelling and rupturing of the spleen
- dehydration
In rare cases, malaria can cause your brain to swell (cerebral malaria). This can sometimes lead to permanent brain damage, fits (seizures) or coma.
Malaria in pregnancy
If you get malaria while pregnant, you and your baby have a higher risk of developing serious complications, such as:
- premature birth (birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy)
- low birth weight
- restricted growth of your baby in the womb
- stillbirth
- miscarriage
- death of the mother
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- you're pregnant and travelling to a high-risk area
They may recommend taking antimalarial tablets.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
